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Zumba Gold is held every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:15 a.m. There is a fee for attending these sessions.

For more information, call the center at 570-788-4881 weekdays between 9 and 11 a.m. and noon and 1 p.m.

- A Charismatic Mass and healing service will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at St. John Bosco Church with the Rev. Edward McElduff presiding.

Light refreshments will be served in room 3 following the service.

For more information, call Arlene at 570-788-3643.

- The Have Yarn Will Knit group will meet Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Conyngham Municipal Building.

All interested knitters are invited.

- Conyngham TOPS Chapter 1013 met recently at Christ United Church of Christ and opened the meeting with the TOPS pledge followed by roll call and officers' reports.

Janet was the best loser for the week.

The positive will be dark green vegetables and the negative is to avoid salty foods and snacks.

Dale presented a program about establishing obtainable goals to lose weight in a sensible way.

There will be no meeting on Thanksgiving. Early weigh-in will be held on Nov. 26 from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

All members are asked to attend upcoming meetings to finalize plans for the annual Christmas party.

The meeting closed with the Helping Hands pledge.

This chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets every Thursday at Christ UCC. Weigh-in at 6 p.m is followed by a brief meeting and program.

New members are welcome.

Freeland

- The Freeland Senior Citizens monthly meeting will be held Nov. 21 at the center following the Active Adult nutrition Thanksgiving dinner.

Lunch must be pre-ordered by calling Patty at the center at 570-636-3080 before noon on Nov. 20.

A business meeting will follow the dinner. Plans will be forwarded for the Christmas luncheon to be held at the Valley Country Club on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.

To register or for more information, call Rose at 570-636-8151.

- VFW Post 5010 social dues for 2014 are due.

Dues are $ 10. Payment must be made on or before Dec. 31, no exceptions.

- The Jeddo Stars will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday.

The board of directors will meet at 1 p.m. and the regular meeting will beheld at 2 p.m.

- Freeland American Legion Post 473, in cooperation with the CAN DO Student Action Committee, will be sending care packages to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

Anyone with loved ones from the surrounding area with loved ones serving in Iraq or Afghanistan should contact Commander General Gerald Gaffney at 570-636-3525 or the post home at 570-636-1293. The deadline is Friday.

Monetary donations would be appreciated. Homemade cookies are a luxury for the troops to enjoy. Anyone baking cookies is asked to package them securely to prevent breakage.

Cookies and donations may be dropped off at the post home, 523 Centre St., Freeland.

- The Sons of the American Legion will meet today at 6 p.m. at Post 473.

Dues for 2014 are being accepted.

- Freeland YMCA Little Dribblers registration is under way.

This program is open to children 5 to 7 years old.

The program will take place Tuesdays at 4 p.m. starting Jan. 28, 2014 and run through March 25.

The program consists of fundamental skills of basketball, teamwork and games. Cost of this program is $25.

For more information, call 570-636-3640 or visit www .freelandymca.com.

- The Freeland YMCA will be offering Zumba classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning Dec. 2.

For more information, call Jamie at 570-436-7398.

- Freeland VFW Dart League play continues tonight with the first round coming to end as position week takes place.

- The Hazleton Art League will hold its annual Winterfest event on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, Drums.

Any interested crafter or vendor who wishes to participate is asked to contact G. Lukas at 570-636-2698.

- Santa Claus will arrive at the Laurel Mall on Saturday.

Santa will be brought in at 11 a.m. on a fire truck by his friends from the Hazle Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

Immediately following, those attending will enjoy entertainment by Faberge Follies Dance 'N' Tumble and meet one of Santa's prized reindeer.

Following in the Santa Claus spirit, the mall will be partnering with Toys for Tots during the 2013 holiday season, and will be the drop off point for toy donations from Saturday through Christmas Eve.

Pet photos with Santa will be held on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Hazle Township

- Faith United Church of Christ, 21 Faith Drive, off Airport Beltway, will hold its holiday bazaar on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event includes a children's shopping room, book room, bake sale, tricky trays, crafters and a variety of food, including breakfast items, chicken and waffle plate and much more.

Orders are being taken for pumpkin pies. The sale will be held on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The deadline to order is Sunday. To order pies, call 570-459-0179.

The church is also holding a Gertrude Hawk Candy sale. Orders can be placed until Sunday by calling 570-455-5102.

- The Pardeesville Christians Association will hold a breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday at Faith United Church of Christ's fellowship hall, Faith Drive, off Airport Beltway.

The menu includes eggs made-to-order (scrambled, sunny side up or over easy), French toast, home fries, pancakes, ham, bacon, sausage, pastries, orange juice, coffee and tea.

Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children. An omelet station will also be available for an additional charge.

Proceeds from the breakfast will go to a charitable organization of one's choice.

Hobbie

- St. James Lutheran Church, Hobbie, will host a Christmas bazaar on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A variety of crafts and vendors will be available.

Available food items include homemade pulled pork barbecue, beef noodle soup, and pigs in the blanket.

Customer have until Friday to pay their balance in full to avoid a late charge.

Also, any customer who wishes to change their billing cycle for 2014 should call the office at 570-929-1004 before Dec. 15.

Mountain Top

- The book nook at St. Martin's in the Field Church will hold a bag sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second and third Saturdays of the month.

- Basic information on financial aid procedures, terminology and scholarships will be available Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Marian Sutherland Kirby Library.

The presentation will be presented by a private career and college counselor.

- Scouts in the Mountain Top Area will hold their annual food drive on Saturday.

All area Scouts will be putting out donation bags at area homes. They will pick up the donations on Nov. 23 starting at 10 a.m.

The Scouts will collect non-perishable items.

All food collected will be taken to the Mountain Top Food bank at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Mountain Top.

For more information, call 570-760-8428.

- Mountain Top Family Center Church is hosting a coat drive until Sunday.

Gently used or new coats (washed) can be dropped off in the bins in the church lobby.

Hats, gloves and mittens are also being accepted.

Nesquehoning

- The Carbon County Animal Shelter will hold an informational open house on Nov. 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. to explain what the shelter does for participating municipalities and the public.

Pottsville

- The Schuylkill United Way appreciation breakfast has been moved from Friday to Dec. 6 at 8 a.m. on the Penn State University Schuylkill Campus.

Everyone is welcome to the 2014 "Together We Can" campaign celebration that includes prizes being drawn, awards presented and campaign success results.

RSVP to the Schuylkill United Way at 570-622-6421.

Sugarloaf

- An all-you-can-eat breakfast will be held Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sugarloaf Fire Company, West County Road.

The menu will include pancakes, French toast, home fries, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit and beverage.

Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 10 years old and free for children under 5 years old. Takeouts will be available.

Also on Sunday, the fire company will hold a holiday craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tamaqua

- Writers interested in learning new ways and words to express their stories are invited to attend a meeting of the Black Diamond Writers' Network on Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., Tamaqua.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Guest speaker Angie Knott is a poet residing in the Schuylkill County coal region and a member of a grassroots group of poets, Berks Bards.

Knott's poetry has appeared in the publication, "The Poets of Blood, Bleed for a Cause" a collection of dark poetry to benefit the homeless.

She often turns to writing as a form of healing past wounds while continuously finding new ways and word to freely express her memories along with a vivid imagination.

She was recently recorded reciting her poetry on BCTV, a local Berks television network, as well as a Brooklyn-based college radio show.

She is the host of a poetry reading and open mic in Pottsville, and at at the annual Block of Art festival, also in Pottsville. Knott is creator of the successful Facebook group, "PoetryInPA," a source of networking and communication among poets and writers.

For more information about the Black Diamond Writers' Network, call Kathy Ruff at 570-645-3059 or visit the Tamaqua Public Library website, www.tamaqua publiclibrary.com.

Tresckow

- The first Jamie Minzola Memorial Scholarship Fund American Dart Tournament will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Tresckow Fire Company hall.

The two-man teams must have a league average. Cost is $30 per team. There will be a 70 percent handicap. Registration is at 10 a.m. and competition starts at 11.

For more information, contact Scott Minzola at 570-401-3892 or the firehouse at 570-861-8110.

The tournament is sponsored by the Tresckow Fire Company.

Weatherly

- The Weatherly Area High School class of 2014 will be voting on its class song, flower etc., until Nov. 26.

Votes can be placed in the box in the high school office.

Class officers will meet today and Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Original Italian Pizza.

A pierogie fundraiser will be held. Orders are due Nov. 25.

For more information, contact class advisers Kathy Hollrigl at 570-443-7420 or Lori Ursta at 570-427-9824.

- The curriculum/technology committee of the Weatherly Area School District will meet today at 6 p.m. in the middle school large group instruction room.

- Knights of Columbus, St. Nicholas Council 12105 of Our Lady of Lourdes Church will meet today at 7:30 p.m. in the church hall.

A Fourth Degree K of C meeting will be held Thursday, also at the church hall.

- The regular meeting of the Weatherly Seniors Citizens Friendship Club will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ, First and Fell streets.

There will be a covered-dish meal after the meeting. Members are asked to make one of their best dishes for the group to sample.

Anyone over 50 years old is welcome to come out and meet with the group.

- The Weatherly Area Community Library will host a children's storytime on Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.

Guest readers will be Huntyr Kephart and Sami Knepper, eighth-graders at Weatherly Area Middle School.

- Members of Centenary United Methodist Church are reminded to bring donations of non-perishable food items to church for the harvest home table, which supports Shepherd House.

The Thanksgiving collection will be taken until Sunday.

Items will then be collected for the Christmas distribution until Dec. 15.

- The Citizens Fire Company auxiliary will hold a Thanksgiving pie and pumpkin roll sale. Pies available are pumpkin, apple and apple crumb at $10 each and pumpkin roll for $15.

Orders can be placed by calling Chicker at 570-233-3058, Cathy at 570-956-3146 or the firehouse after 3 p.m. at 570-427-8741.

All orders and money must be in by Monday.

Pickup will be at the fire company on Nov. 24 from 2 to 10 p.m.

- The hanging of the greens at Salem United Church of Christ will be held Nov. 24 following the 9:30 a.m. service.

Extra hands will make the task lighter.

Refreshments will follow.

- L&L Fire Company will hold its annual children's Christmas party on Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.

Santa will arrive on the fire engine and anyone wishing to, can showcase their talent with a song, poem or dance.

Families or anyone attending are asked to bring a dozen homemade cookies.

Refreshments will be served.

Reservations are needed so there is a Santa gift for all children.

For more information or to register, call Teresa Barna at 570-427-4317 by Dec. 1.

- The following books have been donated to the Weatherly Area Elementary/Middle School library in memory of Mary Bickelman:

"The Brave Little Seamstress," by Mary Pope Osborne, from Gary and Melodie Heydt, and "Fairest of All," by Sarah Mlynowski from Barbara Adams.

"Dream On," by Sarah Mlynowski, in memory of Elizabeth "Betty" Faust from Barbara Adams; "If the Shoe Fits" and "Sink or Swim," by Sarah Mlynowski, in honor of Deborah Adams from Barbara Adams, and "How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?" by Jane Yolen, in memory of Eloise Hinterleiter from the Weatherly Area PTA.

The group not only learns to be good leaders and good presenters, but also to strengthen one's ability to regulate emotions and reduce stress, to focus and avoid distractions.

The club meets the first and third Tuesday of each month and all interested individuals are welcome to attend.

For more information, visit www.toastmasters.org or email toastmasterswb@ gmail.com.

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